What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Berwick	Rochester
People
Population	5,129Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#82 of 133 in ME	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Rochester School District
High school in town	Noble High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.